
Title: Four Small Stones (Urban Hunters)
Author: Gary Taaffe
Genre: Teen & Young Adult Adventure
Number of Pages: 117
Summary: Billy’s gotta find some girls, or he and his brothers face extinction, the last of their kind living a Stone Age life in the Australian bush. The spirits choose Billy to see what he can find in the big city. But he’s never even seen a girl before and all he’s got to wear is a loincloth. His dad wants a fat one to keep him warm in winter and his oldest brother Mallee, wants six! No one knows what Pindaari wants.
Before he goes he must pull off the impossible and earn his brother’s respect, outsmarting them at their own game with a stinking dead kangaroo, a flooded cave crawling with bats and a quartz crystal.
Could life get any more difficult? Why yes it could, Billy could fall in love ...
Four Small Stones is a hilarious adventure about Billy and his brothers's quest to ensure their family's continued existence by seeking out a mates.
Billy and his family are Aboriginals living in the Outback. They believe in the old ways and work hard to preserve their family traditions. But, as their tribe reaches near extinction they decide they must take action. Now it is up to Billy to venture out into the world and see what he can find in the city. The only problem, Billy doesn't quite fit in and the loincloth he wears is a dead giveaway. Will Billy be able to overcome the challenges of the city or will his way of life come to an end?
Four Small Stones is an incredibly enjoyable read. I love the scene with the kangaroo and feel for Billy when his plan to outwit his prank playing brothers goes awry. Gary Taaffe has a knack for storytelling and creates a vivid world through his use of exquisite detail and identifiable characters. Although there is a lot of goofing around and many comedic events, the bond the Aboriginals share is evident and I found myself being drawn into their world.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of Four Small Stones. Available on Amazon.